Mycoplasma — Can it spread to cats?

[VentureChik]

My rooster (a 5 1/2 month old Silkie we purchased 2 1/2 weeks ago) has some sort of respiratory infection. I’m currently waiting to hear back from the vet if it’s mycoplasma and what type. I have him quarantined and on the antibiotics she gave me, but I’m wondering if I should be concerned about potentially passing this onto my cats?? I’ve tried to google this and nothing came up, and my vet is not answering my calls. I am hoping someone here has dealt with this and can help me?

 

[dawg53]

Poultry mycoplasma diseases cannot be passed to cats, other mammals nor humans.

 

[VentureChik]

Poultry mycoplasma diseases cannot be passed to cats, other mammals nor humans.

Thank you! My vet did finally call and told me the opposite? She said it's very contagious and even has me showering/changing clothes any time I come in from outside... should I get a second opinion from another vet?

 

[dawg53]

Thank you! My vet did finally call and told me the opposite? She said it's very contagious and even has me showering/changing clothes any time I come in from outside... should I get a second opinion from another vet?

I'm sure your vet meant to say that mycoplasma diseases can be easily transmitted to other birds. MG is very contagious to birds only. The disease can be carried on your clothing, hands, shoes, vehicles, etc...
A good example is if you go to a chicken swap meet and handle someone's chickens or even chicks, then return home and handle your birds. There's a chance that you unknowingly passed a disease to your birds. The next thing you know one of your birds starts showing respiratory disease symptoms, then it spreads to other birds in your flock.
What shouldve done was come home, put contaminated clothes in the wash and take a shower.
By the same token, after handling your birds, practice personal hygiene and change clothes before leaving to chicken swap meets, feed stores etc...
I have "chicken clothes" and "chicken shoes" that I wear every day. They stay here at the house, shoes stay on the back patio. I dont get in any vehicles wearing chicken clothes neither.
It's called "biosecurity." Practice it as best as you can. Maintain a closed flock. Dont acquire birds off Craigslist, farmer down the road etc. Purchase birds from breeders that you completely trust and with recommendations from others that have NOT had any problems out of the breeders birds. Breeders that are NPIP certified doesnt necessarily mean their birds were tested for mycoplasma diseases, and their certification could be out of date; requirements for NPIP for testing vary state to state. Reliable hatcheries are the way to go.

 

[VentureChik]

I'm sure your vet meant to say that mycoplasma diseases can be easily transmitted to other birds. MG is very contagious to birds only. The disease can be carried on your clothing, hands, shoes, vehicles, etc...
A good example is if you go to a chicken swap meet and handle someone's chickens or even chicks, then return home and handle your birds. There's a chance that you unknowingly passed a disease to your birds. The next thing you know one of your birds starts showing respiratory disease symptoms, then it spreads to other birds in your flock.
What shouldve done was come home, put contaminated clothes in the wash and take a shower.
By the same token, after handling your birds, practice personal hygiene and change clothes before leaving to chicken swap meets, feed stores etc...
I have "chicken clothes" and "chicken shoes" that I wear every day. They stay here at the house, shoes stay on the back patio. I dont get in any vehicles wearing chicken clothes neither.
It's called "biosecurity." Practice it as best as you can. Maintain a closed flock. Dont acquire birds off Craigslist, farmer down the road etc. Purchase birds from breeders that you completely trust and with recommendations from others that have NOT had any problems out of the breeders birds. Breeders that are NPIP certified doesnt necessarily mean their birds were tested for mycoplasma diseases, and their certification could be out of date; requirements for NPIP for testing vary state to state. Reliable hatcheries are the way to go.

Thank you, I am now sadly aware of all of that. However, I specifically asked my vet if keeping my rooster in the house while treating him would pose a risk to my cats and rabbit. She specifically said that cats can contract mycoplasma also and recommended I keep my rooster outside, contained, and follow the biosafety measures you mentioned (changing clothes/showering) before I get near my cats. This is why I was up googling and even made this post — with how contagious it is to birds I have been sick thinking I’ve now infected my inside pets also.

I even called to check AGAIN to ask what measures I’d need to take for my cats and she said to get them tested also. This was not me misunderstanding what she said. I am very glad I posted here because my gut was telling me she was wrong, but since I’m very new to chickens I didn’t want to take any chances. So thank you again for explaining this to me! I’m already sad about my sick chickens but not having to worry about my inside pets is a relief!

 

[dawg53]

Time to see a new vet. Mammals have there own types of mycoplasma diseases as do humans, like I mentioned. I once saw a vet that stated fowl pox cant be transmitted by mosquitos! LOL.
Order Denagard and treat your chickens with it. It specifically treats mycoplasma in chickens. There is no resistance and no egg withdrawal period like with other antibiotics. Here's a link where you can buy it:
https://www.qcsupply.com/denagard-liquid-concentrate-novartis.html
Here is more info on Denagard:
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/focus/contents/novartis/novartis_poultry1.pdf